Interdisciplinary Studies of Consciousness: From Homo Economicus to Homo Cognitivus

Abstract

In recent years, the human sciences undergo the rapid integration: as a result of intersection of psychology, linguistics, anthropology, philosophy and economics we see emergence of relatively new discipline - cognitive science. Among its major achievements are the development of objective methods for the study of human consciousness, and the identification of mechanisms of decision-making that are fundamentally differening from the traditional model of Homo economicus. Current trends of scientific research of consciousness and its brain mechanisms are commented by the doctor of psychological sciences, professor Boris Velichkovsky, founder and first president of the Association for Cognitive Studies, director of the recently established Institute for Cognitive Studies of the Russian Research Center Kurchatov Institute.